Pocono 400 Race Weekend: Things to Do

Thousands of people are arriving this weekend at Pocono Raceway in Monroe County for the first of two NASCAR races this summer.

The Pocono 400 Presented by #NASCAR will get the green flag on Sunday, but there is plenty for fans to see and do until then.

Vendors are gearing up, getting their merchandise ready for the thousands of fans who will descend on Pocono Raceway for Sunday’s Pocono 400.

Race weekend is here, and with engines revving, the Sprint Experience gets the green flag, opening the free, interactive zone all for fans.

There is a race simulator, where they even let reporters take a spin behind the wheel.

Fans can also make a pit stop, learning to change a race car tire.

“It’s the atmosphere. It’s not just cars going around the track, but this is a way of life for some people and it’s a way that we can have fun with Sprint and the fans,” said Rob Coffey, Sprint Experience crew chief.

Also at Pocono Raceway, a new wiffle ball field and more stuff, just for kids.

“Kids Zone, where there’s bounce houses, big wheel races, face painting, clowns. You name it, we have it for the kids, and that’s all free as well,” said Nick Igdalsky, senior vice president of Pocono Raceway.

Sunday will be the first NASCAR race at Pocono since the death of the track’s founder, Doctor Joseph “Doc” Mattioli. Drivers will pay tribute with a special decal on all race cars.

There are some more changes at the Tricky Triangle this year. The Pocono 400 means fewer miles, faster times, and organizers said, a more interesting race for fans and drivers.

“They’re not going to be able to hold back. They’re going to have to go for the front early and stay up there. You’re going to have one less pit sop to work on your car and get it right and it`s going to make for a great show and the new tires here, the new asphalt, it’s a whole new racetrack for these guys,” said Pocono Raceway President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky.

With Pocono Raceway being the first track to unveil a partnership between NASCAR and Twitter, it will also be a whole new race experience for fans.

“It’s going to basically give exclusive behind the scenes content from the drivers prospective, the teams prospective, the media, us the track and NASCAR,” said Kevin Heaney, with Pocono Raceway interactive marketing. “It’s all about giving the fans more interaction and more exclusive content compared to what’s just being shown on the race broadcast.”

Fans will have so much to see and do at Pocono Raceway before the Pocono 400 when more than 100,000 fans pack the grandstands Sunday afternoon, turning the track in to Pennsylvania’s third largest city.